Nationally, the most prevalent principal offences for offenders were: acts intended to cause injury (21% of all offenders), public order offences (17%), theft (16%) and illicit drugs (16%). With the exception of public order offences which increased from 15% to 17%, there has been minimal change in the distribution of the main principal offence types across the offender populations between 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Offenders, Selected principal offence

Sex

Acts intended to cause injury was the main principal offence for male offenders (22%). Female offenders were more commonly proceeded against for theft as their principal offence (29%), followed by acts intended to cause injury (19%). Public order offences was the next most prevalent principal offence for male and female offenders (18% of male offenders and 14% of female offenders), followed by illicit drug offences (16% of male offenders and 14% of female offenders). Female offenders had a higher proportion than males who were proceeded against for fraud and deception (5% compared to 3%).